Statistics and probability are two of the most useful branches of math. Statistics is the gathering, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of numerical data. Probability is the mathematical study of the chances events have of occurring. Both probability and statistics have many real-world applications. While math discoveries are fascinating in themselves, when they lead to wonderful inventions that we humans actually use, then we see why people study these ideas in the first place. For example, a major league baseball team suddenly began winning games as they never had before when they hired a statistician to find out what really was important in a game. They had found that following the same old ideas was resulting in disaster.
But perhaps even more inspiring was a recent development in the world of youth basketball that provides a glimpse into the power of statistics. A dad recently began to coach his daughter’s basketball team, and strangely no one on his team could dribble or shoot the ball very well. Neither could he, for that matter. Yet they won a state championship! How? The dad studied basketball statistics and discovered a high correlation between team defense and team success. So he focused purely on defense. His girls scored baskets only when they stole the ball and got an easy layup. The opponents found themselves confused, frustrated, and losing to this unusual approach.
Professional baseball is a sport in which statistics plays a particularly big role. Professional statisticians work with teams, while fans can often recite their favorite players’ stats. Boston Globe/Getty Images
The world of probability also has fascinating uses, beyond what one might imagine. Sometimes we want to do something but have no clue about whether it’s even possible. Probability can provide clues, even to whether a situation will likely turn dangerous. For instance, when the very first astronauts were sent into space, nobody had ever done that before. One astronaut later reported that he wondered if he might get fried by light energy if he strayed outside the spaceship during a space walk. So scientists had to figure out things like what to expect from light rays and even meteorites that might shoot by out of nowhere, or many other random dangers that might occur. They were forced to have mathematicians figure out the probabilities that random problems might occur, so they might be avoided. And it worked! Our space program was successful. More important, space accidents were reduced.